“Hey.” I poked his chest. “Don’t make fun of my height.”
“Or you’ll do what exactly?” He snatched hold of my wrist and pulled me in closer to his body.
Any snarky remark I might’ve had completely vanished from my mind as I stared up into his blue eyes. And fuck, how in the hell did he smell so good? Like leather and warm spice. He was all man, and I was… well, a horny twenty-three-year-old who hadn’t gotten laid in going on a year. My pulse quickened.
Lupin had said I’d have a few lovers while in Bremloc. Was Maddox one of them?
Don’t be ridiculous.A guy as hot as him wouldn’t give me the time of day.
“No response?” he asked, easing his firm hold on my wrist. He didn’t release me though. His touch just became more gentle. “Shocking. And here I thought nothing could silence that mouth of yours.”
My heart thumped so hard against my ribs I wondered if he could feel it too with his body so close to mine.
“There you are,” a smooth voice said from behind us. Briar approached, wearing a white button-down shirt and fitted trousers. The long sleeves of the shirt were pushed to his inner elbows, exposing his pale skin to the morning sun. Behind the round frames of his glasses, his hazel eyes lingered on Maddox before moving to me. “How are you feeling, Evan?”
Apart from all the blood rushing from my head and to my dick? “Fine.”
“No headaches?”
“Nope. Not even a little,” I responded. Again, with the exception of the ache down south.
“Excellent.” The chief herbalist slash physician beamed with a smile. “How did you sleep? When you fainted yesterday, I was worried.”
“I slept great. But I appreciate your concern, Doc.”
Maddox released my wrist and shifted his body a bit in front of me, placing himself between me and Briar. “We were on our way to eat morning meal. If you’ll excuse us.”
Briar easily held his gaze. “I’m sure you’re quite busy, Captain. Much too busy to deal with something such as this. Allow me to take over from here. It’s my field of expertise, after all. Evan should really be in a physician’s care considering his memory loss and the fall he took.”
“His memory has returned,” Maddox coolly said. “He told me where he’s from. And you heard him. He is in no pain. I suggest you care for those who actually need your help.”
“He may not be in pain, but he should be carefully monitored,” Briar countered. “He’d be much safer in my hands.”
“Safer?” Maddox said with a slight snarl. “I’m the captain of the Second Order. There are no safer hands for him to be in than mine.”
Why did I get the feeling they were… fighting over me? Surely not. I had clearly hit my head harder than I thought if I believed something like that was even possible.
“You suspect him to be a spy, do you not?” Briar asked. “Your concern does not lie in his well-being but rather in whether or not he’ll strike against the kingdom. This suspicion will prevent you from caring for him as he needs—”
“Do not presume to tell me my thoughts,” Maddox interjected with a growl. “Evan will remain in my charge until I say otherwise. If he happens to hit his pretty little head again, we will pay you a visit. Until then, I suggest you stay out of my way.”
Pretty little head?
Briar’s smile remained in place, though his eyes narrowed. “But of course. How foolish of me to be concerned about him when you’ve done such a fine job so far.”
“Careful of your tone, physician.”
Ignoring the seething knight, Briar regarded me. “Enjoy your morning meal. If you need anything at all, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks.” My voice trembled. This was all too weird.
Maddox placed his hand on my lower back and guided me away. His stormy expression kept me from saying a word. At first, anyway. My curiosity got the better of me after five whole seconds.
“Do you and Briar not like each other?”
“What?” Maddox looked down at me.
“I sensed hostility between you. Just wondering if there’s bad history or something.”
